|
01/29/08 January 29, 2008
Dear Prayer Partners, Mike and I wish you a belated Happy New Year! We are finally settled back in Venezuela after having a great time in the States with our family celebrating Christmas and being together to welcome in the new year. We had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas with our groups in Maracay, Coro and Punto Fijo before leaving for the States. It was great to see our friends from Falcon and to share not only a meal, but the Word also as Mike brought a short devotional on the true meaning of Christmas in each group. This past Monday we had a meeting of our team here in Maracay. I believe we have come up with a good plan of how to reach out to the professionals of this city in 2008. Please pray for our team, Winelia, Wilmer and Yahyn, Moises, Yelitza and Javier as they lead out in reaching their friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors with the good news of Christ. Our strategy this year is to go back to the basics and keep things simple. That means that instead of relying on alot of publicity to promote a big conference, we will rely on our team members and present group members to get the word out through personal invitations to attend a small conference tailored for invitees. What we are doing is returning to relationship evangelism to bring people to Christ. Please pray as we first make a list of close contacts and then begin to pray for the Lord to work in these people to be open to talk with us about their real needs and then be willing to attend a conference that addresses these needs. We really need the Lord's wisdom and guidance as we plan this conference. We want Him to be in charge. I would also ask your prayers for a team that is coming down the second week of February. This team is led by Mack Mills and they will be working at a school for special children doing social outreach projects for the school and the community. Please pray for their safe travel and a blessed week as we minister to the children and their parents by showing the love of Christ in very practical ways. Please pray for Mike and I during this next month as we will be doing a lot of traveling. Right now, Mike is on his way to Gainesville, Florida for the South American Summit. This meeting is bringing together missionaries and interested church leaders for talks and the sharing of information about missions in the 10 countries that make up the South American region. Pray for traveling mercies for everyone who is attending and a great spirit in the meetings. When Mike gets back, we will be traveling to southeastern Venezuela to the town of Ciudad Bolivar to lead two conferences. First is a conference on how to begin cell groups in your church and second, a conference for professionals of that city. We ask your prayers for good attendance and open minds in both places. Finally, at the end of the month, Mike is headed to Mexico City to attend a workshop on how to reach people for Christ in large cities. (cities of over a million people) Again, please pray for traveling mercies and an open mind as he listens to other's ideas on how to reach large city dwellers for Christ. On a sad note, Mike's one remaining aunt, Mrs. Effie Ruff, went to be with the Lord on January 5th. Aunt "Ett" was one of Mom Bennett's older sisters and would have celebrated her 97th birthday in April. She was a wonderful Christian lady and a true disciple of Christ all her life. She was a great example for Mike and I all during our marriage. Please lift up her son Calvin, his wife Emilie and their daughter Tammy as they deal with the loss of this tremendous saint of the Lord. We will miss her greatly. We are still trying to start up our groups after the Christmas break, but have had difficulties in doing so. Please pray that the members would have a hunger for the Word and the fellowship of meeting together once again. Thank you for your continued support of us and our ministry. We look forward to a wonderful year reaching out to the professionals of Maracay. Always, JAN __._,_.___
|
